Voice of the People, Jan. 22

We appear to be a nation out of control. Not only are shootings erupting in our nation's schools, they are happening in movie theaters, malls, restaurants, private homes — everywhere.

My fear is that the more publicity they receive, the more shootings we will see. Sick minds seem to gravitate, and our nation may be experiencing copycat phenomena.

Arming schools is not the answer. That would mean we need armed security in all common areas, wherever people meet. Asinine!

First and foremost, we need to keep guns out of the hands of those who are mentally unstable. However, the only way to do so is with the passage of stricter gun control laws.

— JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Fla.

Illegal guns

Bad guns are only a tool of those who overall have or do evil. Good guns are those that cease the efforts of such.

— John Guehler, Somonauk, Ill.

Gun history

There is no clear answer to the gun-control question. Everyone agrees that intelligent, respectable, responsible citizens should have a right to own their weapons of choice. However, regardless of the laws, restrictions, requirements and controls, madmen, morons and idiots will still get their hands on guns, and gun violence will continue just as it always has but is always getting worse.

Gun ownership and gun violence are indelible aspects of American history. In my opinion, the only choice we have is to do the best we can and then let nature take its course.

Intelligent, respectable, responsible citizens should continue to have the right to own their weapon of choice and others will die of gun violence, same as it has always been but always getting worse.

— Dennis W. Nilson, Chicago

Tougher laws

Emotionally ill people and people with no respect for life or laws don't care how many new bills Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans on pushing through for stricter gun laws. Every time bad people do bad things, the government creates more laws against law-abiding gun owners.

Instead of creating more laws restricting our rights, why don't they make tougher laws on the people who use a gun in a crime? These bad people know that if they kill someone, the worst that can happen is life in prison. Maybe if they knew they could die (yes, the death penalty), they would think twice about killing someone.

My congratulations to our president on the long-needed action on gun control in America. I should point out that I was a member of the National Rifle Association as an avid sports person and hunter. I sent back requests for continued membership when the NRA took a liking to the 50-caliber rifles. I told the organization that it no longer represented me since I will not hunt with a sidearm, 50-caliber gun, or an assault weapon.

A shotgun normally has a plug to restrict the number of shells in it. This was dictated by the hunting license regulations. Who needs a clip with a very large capacity?

During the hey-day of the Prohibition gangs, it became necessary to outlaw the Tommy gun. This was sensible now as it was then. If the NRA feels that its members should own assault weapons, I suggest that those so inclined should join the Army or Marines in their efforts in a war zone (where they have somebody also shooting at them).

Guns do not belong in schools! They belong in the hands of prison guards. The NRA has been taken over by a collection of very dangerous people who might not pass the test for rationality and, hence, be excluded from gun possession.

— John Krajewski, Wheeling

Springfield inaction

Is anyone surprised that no solutions, not even partial ones, were adopted by the combined efforts of the governor and the Legislature during the last session? After all, can anything good be expected when the fox is guarding the hen house?

— Allen A. Stone, Wilmette

Pension reform

Given the chronic pension underfunding, abuses, dismal performance and exorbitant cost to taxpayers, reforms to the systems are inevitable.

In order to enact the kind of reform necessary to protect taxpayers and pensioners alike, it will be necessary to eliminate the current defined benefit plans and establish defined contribution plans similar to those in the private sector. Without this type of meaningful reform, all stakeholders will continue to be subjected to the same unnecessary and unwanted risks.

I implore our elected officials to reform Illinois pension systems in such a meaningful way! Now!